Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Bell, Geoffrey, 1909-
- Abstract:
- The Geoffrey Bell papers contain materials relating to his career as a film historian and film producer, chiefly about early film-making in the San Francisco Bay Area. The bulk of the collection, which has been arranged in six series, consists of correspondence, synopsis, scripts, drafts, research and production files, notes, publicity, reviews, clippings, and financial reports for Bell's films, books, articles, and speeches. The collection contains material both created and collected by Bell in the course of his work, and includes some original programs and clippings from the 1910s that are not reflected in the date span of the collection.
- Extent:
- Number of containers: 8 cartons, 1 box, 2 card file boxes, 2 oversize boxes Linear feet: 12.4
- Language:
- Collection materials are in English
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Geoffrey Bell papers contain materials relating to his career as a film historian and film producer, chiefly concerning early film-making in the San Francisco Bay Area. The collection includes files relating to Bell's best known films, Movies Go West, First (Motion) Picture Show, and Those Daring Young Film Makers by the Golden Gate, among others, and for his book, The Golden Gate and the Silver Screen. There is material both created and collected by Bell in the course of his work, including some original programs and clippings from the 1910s. His papers conclude with a small amount of correspondence with personal friends, acquaintances, and others interested in Bell and his work on film history, as well as a few miscellaneous items concerning Geoffrey Bell and the Bell family.
Bell's two films about California authors: My Jack London: a Daughter Remembers, and Bret Harte: Chronicler of the West, are well represented in the collection, which also includes materials relating to his two early films, Point Reyes and Maya. Files for his book, The Golden Gate and the Silver Screen, include detailed card indices created during the project, plus a large quantity of copy prints he gathered in the course of his work. There are also drafts and research materials for an unpublished book, Broncho Billy: The First Reel Cowboy.
The bulk of the collection, which has been arranged in six series, consists of correspondence, synopsis, scripts, drafts, research and production files, notes, publicity, reviews, clippings, and financial reports for Bell's films, books, articles, and speeches.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Mr. Bell, after retiring from a career in the U.S. Coast Guard, studied film at San Francisco State University. He has produced and directed several award-winning documentary films and published a number of articles and a book on film history, The Golden Gate and the Silver Screen.
- Acquisition information:
- The Geoffrey Bell Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Geoffrey Bell in February 1990.
- Physical location:
- Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft LibraryBerkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
- Contact:
- 510-642-6481